Shopping in Franklin

If its full name––Two Fat Guys Summerfield Ace Hardware––isn't a clue about this store's unconventional nature, maybe its pet shop is. Or perhaps that distinction belongs to its owners' related endeavor: not only do Rick and Smokey inspire ambitious homeowners with rows of home-improvement implements, but they also encourage handiness by taking to the airwaves with a weekly hardware radio show. Summerfield Ace Hardware also doubles as a U-Haul Center, and animals are welcome, especially if they're able to drive a U-Haul but also if they just want to sniff around the pet shop. Prepping for barbecue season is a cinch on these premises: in the words of Rick and Smokey, "With a name like the Two Fat Guys you might expect that we have a complete grilling center and we offer assembly and delivery." Salespeople are trained to answer nearly any home-improvement question their customers ask, and a wide selection of hardware, paint, plumbing, and electrical supplies shares space with gifts, home decor, and housewares.

Naresh Garg and his wife, Hansa, descended upon New York in 1984 with the dream of establishing their own wholesale jewelry-supply business. After relocating the business to Greenwood in the early '90s, the bead emporium now stocks its 6,000-square-foot showroom with an overwhelming bead-and-stone collection, all manufactured in Jaipur, India. Due to the high demand for his jewelry supplies, Naresh Garg now sells his 18-karat-gold chains, copper beads, diamond parts, and gemstones to buyers all across the country. The store attracts hobbyists, designers, and store owners alike, and Naresh encourages inquiries for specific products, such as just the right bit of bling for a handcrafted Flavor Flav sock puppet.

Dr. Ray Stidd boasts several decades of experience in podiatric care. He practiced in podiatric medicine for more than 30 years, was president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and served as a medical triage officer for the Olympic marathon trials. He brings this wealth of knowledge and passion for healthcare to Sole Sensations, where he oversees all aspects of the store's operations.

Visitors find literal and physical comfort in the store's mission to help preserve customers' health by matching them with supportive footwear. Feet test-drive everything from orthopedic shoes and sandals to accessories such as sole supports, socks, and toe puppets.

Working together as makeup artists, Anne White and Holly Kirsh soon bonded over their mutual passion for fashion. In 1994, they started hosting quarterly shopping events in Indianapolis to share the season’s latest trends with other fashionistas. Over time, their style-seeking endeavors evolved into a successful business of culling the latest in skincare products, apparel, and accessories. AH Collection—a name derived from their combined first initials—now boasts locations at the Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville and Clay Terrace in Carmel. The two locations stock a rotating array of apparel selected to match seasonal fashion trends. Cosmetics include foundations, eye shadows, and bronzers to highlight natural features while covering up blemishes and last year's Halloween masks.

For the past 10 years, the discerning florists at Cattails to Roses by Eve have assembled artful arrangements for all of life's bouquet-worthy events. Traditional creations abound, but staffers also concoct contemporary arrangements inspired by European design and the Japanese art of ikebana. In addition to working with live plants, specialists can immortalize bridal bouquets for posterity or harness the power of lightning to reanimate desiccated potpourri. In order to accommodate more of the community's blossom collectors, the shop's bilingual staff is able and willing to speak in Spanish.

At Wittmann 20/20 Family Eye Center, Dr. Tammy Wittmann measures patients’ visual acuity, diagnoses ocular health, and performs genetic tests to identify risk for diseases such as macular degeneration. She is aided by a staff that includes an office manager who is especially sympathetic to suffering patients, as she has experienced serious ocular diseases herself. Dr. Wittmann specializes in primary eye care, diabetic eye exams, and fitting multifocal contact lenses for sports fans who like to watch four TVs at once. Wittmann 20/20 caters to adults and children alike with designer frames from Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo, and Veggie Tales.